ExpressionEngine vs Plone
ExpressionEngine
expressionengine.com
Plone
plone.orgSide by side
| Figure | ExpressionEngine | Plone |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3.25/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 1 |
| Spec score · Web Content Management Software | 9.0 (#1) | 8.5 (#8) |
| Spec score · Content Management Systems | 9.1 (#9) | 9.0 (#12) |
| Custom content types | Yes | Yes |
| Custom user roles | Yes | Yes |
| Editorial workflows | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Media library | Yes | Yes |
| Multilingual content | Yes | Yes |
| Platform type | self_hosted | hybrid |
| SEO tools | Yes | Yes |
Plans
ExpressionEngine
- CoreFree
- Pro$249, paid once
- Pro Renewal Subscription$49 a year
- Pro Renewal$59, paid once
- Additional MSM Site$49, paid once
- MSM Pro Renewal Subscription$39 a year
- MSM Pro Renewal$49, paid once
- MSM Pro Renewal$49 a year
- Pro Renewal$59 a year
- MSM Pro License Renewal$49 a year
In their own words
ExpressionEngine
ExpressionEngine is an open source CMS from Packet Tide for storing, managing and publishing website content. Its flexible channels and fields support custom content types, editorial workflows, multilingual content, SEO tools and a media library. Templates can include HTML, JavaScript, PHP and ExpressionEngine tags, and the CMS provides more than 20 field types. Editors can update content on a site's front end, while administrators can also bring the control panel there. One installation can manage multiple sites and share design, content and members; each additional MSM site requires an additional MSM Pro License. The free Core plan allows one control panel user. Pro costs $249, paid once, includes unlimited control panel users and one year of updates. Continued updates are available through renewal options, including a Pro Renewal Subscription at $49 a year. ExpressionEngine runs on web, self-hosted and API platforms. Learning resources include documentation, forums and ExpressionEngine University.
Plone
Plone is a free, open-source content management system for websites, intranets, and custom applications. Plone 6 provides a block-based editing interface for text, images, video, maps, forms, and search; its layouts can create flexible multi-column pages that adapt to different devices. Editors can define content types through the web without code and build forms by drag and drop, with submissions sent by email or stored as CSV. A faceted search block filters results by facets. Plone also supports editorial workflows, custom roles, multilingual content, SEO tools, and a media library. A React-based frontend and REST API are supported, and the ecosystem includes more than 100 add-on products. It can run on UNIX-based systems, Windows, and macOS, on premises or in cloud deployments. The site says users retain control of their data. Each major version receives five years of security support; Plone 6 support is listed through 2027-12-31. Service providers offer development, training, customization, and deployment help.